Alleged cocaine-in-pastry trafficker refused bail

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 20:59 by GxMedia

The Berbice man, who allegedly attempted to smuggle cocaine-in-pastries early Monday morning to New York was hours later arraigned in a City Court for drug trafficking.

Thirty-seven year old Nicholas Harinandan of 603 Fort Ordinance, Canje pleaded not guilty and was refused bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

He is accused of being in possession of 7.5 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking on April 6 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

He was remanded to prison until April 14 when he will appear at the Providence Magistrates Court.

Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah told the court that Harinandan checked in two suitcases- one black, the other red- to leave with him on the same flight on a visit to New York. He was due to leave on a tourist visa.

When questioned by a CANU officer during the check-in process, he told him that that he had packed the suitcases and the contents-clothing, pastries, food, seasoning and footwear- belonged to him.

Massiah said that the CANU agent broke one of the mittai and found a whitish substance that was later tested positive as cocaine. Further examination,  the Prosecutor said, revealed that more of the drug was found in mittai, cheese rolls, pinetart and the sole of a pair of Clark’s footwear.